The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-03
SSpecia1 Contributors.
w H0 is 0RTH0 0X2
BY REV. S. CRANE, D. D.
(Galesburg, Ill.)
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II.
In a former article we asked this
question concerning the Andover school,
and the DR.. Withrow school. We show
ed that the former is more orthodox
than the latter, because it holds firmly
to the orthodox doctrine that all who
are saved must be saved through faith
in Christ, while the latter affirms that
multitudes of the heather are saved by
"the light of Nature"
We purpose now to put the same
question to another school who bitterly
oppose the Audover men. 1t is that of
Joseph Cook. Joseph Cooks theory is
that Of conscience. He holds that
many of the heather will be saved be-
cause they have obeyed conscience.
Conscience, he holds, to be the les
sential Christ" Faith in Christ is
necessary to salvation, but conscience
is the essential Christi 1t is the in
ward light; the Christ in our souls.
Whoever believes in conscience, be
lieves in Christ, Whoever follows this
light, follows Christ, and will therefore
be saved.
No matter whether he has ever heard
of the objective, historic Christ. He
may have been in utter ignorance of
his teachings, he may not even so much
as have heard his name, yet if he has
been faithful follower of conscience
he is saved. Many Of the heathen-hass-
faithfully followed conscience, there
fore, many of the heather are saved.
This theory also starts some curious
questions and leads to some curious
results.
In the first place, it clearly cuts "the
nerve of missions" What is the use
of carrying Christ to the heather, when
every heather has the essential Christ
in his own soul 3? Why make such
efforts to give the heather knowledge
of objective, historic Christianity, when
every heathen has already, in his own
conscience all the Christianity neces-
sary to his salvation ? Surely there is
no justification of missions on this the
ory.
But further, this doctrine renders
unnecessary all preaching of objective
Christianity. What is the use of preach
ing the gospel when every one has the
essential gospel in his own soul ? Why
try to bring men up to the Christian
standard of righteousness, when all the
righteousness necessary is obedience to
ones own conscience Verify, this
doctrine, put in practice, would not
only end missions, but it would shut
up all our churches and make an end of
all Christian teaching and effort.
But this doctrine would put some
very uncomfortable characters into
heaven, and make its society anything
but desirable. Conscientious people,
when unenlightened, are very hard
people to get along with. But ICON
science is essential Christ" therefore,
all conscientious people go to heaven,
and they go to heaven without any
change whatever. They are not in
structed in Christianity, brought into
communion with Christ, and baptized
into Lis spirit, for that would imply
something very like probation. They
go right to heaven when they die, be
cause they are conscientious when liv-
ing. Consequently heaven must have
strange population.
Some of the old prosecutors were
very conscientious. They verify thought
they were doing Gods service in perse-
cutting the heretics, OF course they
went to heaven. May they not be per
scouting heretics there? Many of the
Jews who put Jesus to death, were
very conscientious. They were full of
zeal for the law. They went right to
heaven, and have the same disposition
there that they had here.
Paul, on his way to Damascus,
breathing out wrath and threaten
ingso against the Christians, was fol-
lowing conscience. He verify thought
he was doing Gcd service. Suppose
instead of being converted he had died
What would have become Of him
Why, according to this doctrine he
would have gone straight to heaven.
Conscience is "the essential Christ.'
Paul followed conscience, therefore,
Paul, the prosecutor is in heaven. A